Urgent! Send letters to Olmsted County Commissioners prior to meeting (Tues 4/6, 9AM) - draft letter provided
The Olmsted County Board of Commissioners will discuss land use designation for this proposed development, Olmsted County Land Use Plan Amendment #O2021-001LUPA and the General Development Plan #O2021-001GDP, on Tuesday, April 6, at 9AM.
We have drafted a letter for concerned citizens to modify as needed and send to the Olmsted County Board of Commissioners.
SEND TO: planningweb@co.olmsted.mn.us and Morris.Helmstetler.Lisa@co.olmsted.mn.us
AND cc: the commissioners: podulke.stephanie@co.olmsted.mn.us, brown.ken@co.olmsted.mn.us, wright.gregory@co.olmsted.mn.us, flynn.matt@co.olmsted.mn.us, bier.jim@co.olmsted.mn.us, kiscaden.sheila@co.olmsted.mn.us , Thein.Mark@co.olmsted.mn.us
Concerns to be voiced to the Board of Commissioners prior to their meeting on Tuesday, April 6 (9AM):
● There is not yet enough information regarding the environmental significance of the proposed parcel for development. An Environmental Assessment Worksheet needs to be completed and reviewed by the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board before the land is re-designated. The initial assessment missed one of the most critical resources, the Great Blue Heron Rookery. Moreover, the packet does not include a search of The Natural Heritage Information System (NHIS).
● We know that this land is critical habitat. The forest supports a large rookery (nesting site) of Great Blue Herons that have been nesting there for decades. The land also has a creek running through it that would be impacted by development and further endanger several species living there. The GDP resolution recognizes that this proposal threatens natural resources. It explicitly lists Decorah Edge and Cascade Creek, including a bluff area and shoreland as shown on maps in the packet, as resources at risk.
● This parcel of land and the proposed development is upstream of an Olmsted Soil and Water Conservation (SWCD) stream restoration and flood control structures. Disturbing its present state will worsen flooding and therefore negatively impact public and private property along Cascade Creek. And ultimately flood control projects in Rochester.
● Final review of at least one environmental assessment--Decorah Edge Study--will be approved by the Manager of the Olmsted SWCD. The property owner is an officer of the SWCD and therefore has some supervision of the Manager and influence on the direction of this government body. This review and others like it would be a potential conflict of interest and should be handled by an agency with expertise not located or closely associated with Olmsted SWCD.
● The county acknowledges that there is no need for this kind of development. The developer is not providing a service. In fact, the county cites that there are 8500 acres already designated as “Suburban Development” which are better suited for development. Many of those acres may have immediate and direct connections to existing infrastructure such as sewer and public road networks. County staff state their belief that a re-analysis of county land will demonstrate no substantive change in this “Suburban Development” land use availability.
● The existing land use designation as "resource protected/potential suburban designation" is not an error. Rather, it is derived correctly, based on proper analysis and public engagement. There are no new county policies to dictate or support a change in designation. On the contrary, evidence suggests this parcel lies on the type of environmentally sensitive land that should render it "resource protected."
● There is strong community opposition to these proposed resolutions; in just 3 days since posting a petition to demand an Environmental Assessment of the parcel, over 900 signatures have been collected from concerned Minnesotans; the majority of these are Olmsted County residents. Continuing with this reassignment in the face of such community rejection will be met with significant public outcry and opposition.
You can join the April 6 meeting LIVE via Microsoft Teams. The public may also join in person, although space is limited.